Freemasons Vote To Uphold Ban On Gay Members
Earlier this week, we reported on the Freemasons in Tennessee preparing to vote on whether or not to keep their ban of homosexual members in place.
Unfortunatley, during a members-only meeting in Nashville on Thursday, the group voted to uphold its ban on gay men.
The Tennessean reported that two Freemasons confirmed the results, but had to do it anonymously, as anything that goes on at the meetings is meant to be a secret, and they risked being kicked out of the organization.
"It’s a sad situation for all of us because we hate to see this kind of disharmony going on in the organization,” Christopher Hodapp, the author of Freemasons for Dummies, told The Tennessean. “We’re supposed to be helping each other as brothers and not engaging in fights like this. This is the last thing that should be going on.”
Dennis Clark and Mark Henderson were suspended by the Grand Lodge of Tennessee last fall after the couple got married, and they were disappointed by the news of the vote.
"In rejecting the amendment to remove discriminatory language, from my perspective, they have doubled down in bigotry," Clark said. "If you are a master mason they will suspend you or punish you when you are discovered. That is not the principles of equality and meeting 'on the level.' I am deeply cut and concerned from this move from the Grand Lodge."
